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 Home > Resource Center > Security Tips > Security Tips: Identity Theft
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Awareness is the first line of defense against identity theft and fraud.
As banking customers, you need to be aware of the scams that are used by criminals
to obtain your information and steal your identity or money. Two of the most common
scams are phishing (pronounced “fishing”) by e-mail and fake phone calls
claiming to be from your bank.
Phishing is a forged e-mail sent to you via the Internet pretending to be from your
bank or a service provider, asking you to verify or re-submit personal information.
- IMPORTANT: WaterStone Bank will not send you an unsolicited e-mail asking you
to verify your information. Never provide your personal information in response
to an unsolicited e-mail, fax, letter, or Internet advertisement.
- When using e-mail for account inquiries to WaterStone, always send your e-mail through
secure online banking by signing on to Consumer Internet Banking.
Fake phone calls are very troublesome because the criminals claim to be calling
from your bank and ask you to verify personal and account information.
- IMPORTANT: If you have any doubt that the caller is not from your bank, do not
give any information. Ask for the caller’s name, title, and department. Hang
up and call Customer Service to verify that the caller is indeed from WaterStone.
- When WaterStone requests information, you have the option to submit the required
information by mail or in person. It is never required that you give personal information
over the telephone.
Finally, report anything suspicious to a local or federal law enforcement agency
and to your bank. If you believe that you are already a victim of identity theft
or fraud, you can learn more about filing an identity theft report with the Federal
Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov
or by calling toll-free (877) 438-4338.
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